The Beginnings
Between 1900 and 1914, the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) dispatched recruiters known as padroni to the mountain towns of Italy. They offered a tempting contract—a paid voyage, with a commitment to work for the CPR for at least six months in Canada.
Lured by the promise of steady wages, many young Italian men made a courageous choice. They left behind their families, their language, and the warmth of the Mediterranean for an unknown frontier.
The journey itself was a test of endurance—a 14-day steamship crossing followed by a long, rattling train ride across the vast Canadian prairies. When they finally stepped off the train in Calgary, they were not met with paved streets, but with a harsh, windswept climate—especially for those arriving in winter—and roads that were little more than rivers of mud.
Most of these newcomers settled in the Riverside area, which was annexed by the city in 1910. This neighbourhood quickly became the heart of Calgary’s Italian community. Their goal was singular: build a foundation, buy a plot of land, and eventually bring their wives and children to join them.
Some returned to Italy, but many stayed. Calgary became a central hub for Italian immigrants. Others followed the railway or moved to regions such as the Crowsnest Pass, Trail, Lethbridge, Bankhead, and Nordegg to work in coal mines, while some became farmers in the surrounding areas.
Pre-1910 settlers
Aiello, Ciccioni, Annible Corradetti, Salvatore Cozzubbo, Giovanni Dipalo, Giuseppe Fabbi, Fornazero, Vincenzo Grassi, Nick Gallelli, Domenico Gasbarri, George Pocaterra, Serafino Taverna
Calgary experienced a major boom between 1911 and 1915, with the population growing to approximately 70,000. This growth brought many more Italian immigrants to the city. With expansion came opportunity.
Major construction projects such as The General Hospital and The Hudson’s Bay Company created steady jobs and income. New businesses emerged, and streetcars expanded into developing areas. Italians became the backbone of Calgary’s infrastructure—digging the first sewer lines and laying streetcar tracks.
The city itself, along with employers like Burns Foods and the Palliser Hotel, provided significant employment. Their expertise in masonry helped shape the iconic sandstone buildings that still define downtown Calgary today.
One lasting symbol of their contribution is the Centre Street Bridge, constructed between 1911 and 1915—a landmark that still stands as a testament to their hard manual labour.
The second wave
and “Little Italy”
The second wave of Italian immigration led to the growth of what would become “Little Italy.” Many immigrants settled on both sides of the river, with a strong presence in Sunnyside.
Sunnyside was particularly attractive due to the presence of St. John’s Church and the construction of St. John’s School by 1915. These early settlers supported one another, planted gardens, and formed the Giovanni Caboto Loggia—a place for socializing and building strong community ties.
With the arrival of more families, St. Angela’s School was established in 1913 to serve their children. Religion played a central role in daily life. St. Mary’s Cathedral, established in 1901, was accessible by foot or streetcar, while St. Joseph’s Church, founded in 1912 in Mount Pleasant, was more difficult to reach due to the lack of automobiles.
Through hard work and cooperation, these pioneers built new lives for themselves and their families, leaving a lasting mark on the city.
Family names (1911–1916)
Aiello
Angelo
Antonio
Arabella
Barberio
Batiste
Blassetti
Boffa
Bombardieri
Brandelli
Buccini
Carloni
Cicarella
Ciccioni
Cioni
Cimino
Civitarese
Comba
Corsennini
Corradetti
Cozzubbo
Denegri
Dipalo
DiPaolo
Fabbi
Fabbro
Ferrari
Fornazero
Gallelli
Garossimo
Gasbarri
Grassi
Ioffola
Manzara
Marcello
Messina
Milano
Occelli
Perosini
Perotti
Piccolo
Poscente
Roletti
Romano
Romeo
Rossi
Rosso
Sabo
Santopinto
Sandrelli
Serani
Sereni
Signori
Taverna
Trepisso
Vanconi
Venini
Vidito
Vietto
Violini
Vitario
Zancanaro
Zanini
